"Forces outside Hong Kong"

No doubt, Hong Kong's anti-extradition protests were run by people Hong Kong -- over 2 million of them. Beijing argued that trouble was stirred up by forces outside Hong Kong. Outside forces, including those within Hong Kong, did support the anti-extradition movement. There is nothing wrong about international support for universal values.

"Trouble caused by forces outside Hong Kong”

In an interview with the BBC on Wednesday 12th June 2019, Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, defended the proposed extradition law in Hong Kong. When asked why over 1 million people went to the street to protest against this proposal, Mr Liu said it was “always the forces outside Hong Kong” that “try to take advantage of things to stir up trouble”.

This represents Beijing's official view toward the recent conflicts in Hong Kong, which brought over 2 million people to the street on 16th June.

Foreign forces are involved

First, there is nothing wrong about international support for universal values, such as justice, democracy the separation of powers and rule of law (as opposed to rule by law). That happens all the time and should be welcome.

In this occasion, one must acknowledge the contribution of outside forces, including the following:

• On 24th May 2019, 11 European Union representatives met the Chief Executive of Hong Kong and issued a diplomatic “demarche” protest note against the amendment.
• On 24th May 2019, eight commissioners from the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China wrote to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong to urge her to withdraw the proposed bill.
• On 12th June, US Senators Ted Cruz and Ed Markey tabled a bill to amend the US-Hong Kong policy Act 1992, demanding a report on “How the People’s Republic of China exploits Hong Kong to circumvent the laws of the United States.”
• On 13th June, US Commissioners reintroduced the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act.

Outside forces from within

• Many influential people and high officials in the Beijing administration have their families sent overseas to study or for long holidays. A report in 2014 suggested that China's elite own billions overseas. These people have outside interests in mind.
• Many high officials in the Hong Kong government send their children to international schools in Hong Kong, to prepare them for English education overseas. Taking advantage of the education allowance, 66% of civil servants send their children to overseas universities, suggested a 2010 report. Sending their children overseas could smoothen these officials's plan to retire overseas. With assets in foreign contries, it is reasonable to assume that they have outside interests in mind.
• Many Hong Kong people who voice their objection to the extradition law have overseas nationality; some of them live overseas. Strictly speaking, they belong to the category of "outside forces".

Related:

• The extradition law - A proposal that has changed Hong Kong